Disinfectant dispenser



Feb. 28, 1956 a F. c. MAJO 2,736,039

DISINFECTANT DISPENSER Filed Feb. 19, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

Freeman 0. Maia INVEN TOR.

BY zlzsr Feb. 28. 1956 F. c. MAJO 2,736,039

DISINFECTANT DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1952 msimwggxmwFig.6

Freeman 6. Maia R\\\\\\\\\ INVENTOR' 9 By @mm WWW EM Feb. 28. 1956 c,MAJO 2,736,039

DISINFECTANT DISPENSER Filed Feb. 19, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Freeman 6.Main IN V EN TOR.

BY ma DISINFECTANT DISPENSER Freeman C. Majo, Canal Fulton, Ohio,assignor of fifty per cent to Jerald J. Keplinger, Orrville, ()hlo Thisinvention relates to new and useful improvements in devices forsupplying detergent to water supply apparatus and the primary object ofthe present invention is to provide a means for supplying a detergent tothe water within a flush tank. I 1

Another important object of the present invention is t provide adetergent dispenser that is automatically actuated to supply a detergentin response to the lowering of the liquid level in a flush tank as thewater in the tank is employed during a flushing operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a detergentdispenser for flush tanks that is quickly and readily applied to the topof a flush tank to replace the conventional top wall or closure for aflush tank.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide adisinfectant dispenser of the aforementioned character that is simpleand practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, small andcompact in structure to occupy very little space within a flush tank,inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise welladapted for the purposesfor which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages-reside in the details of constructure andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a flush tank and showing oneform of the invention applied thereto and with the upper and lowervalves shown in their raised position by full lines and in their loweredposition by dotted lines;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of Figure l but showing thepresent invention in vertical section;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the tank top or reservoir formingportion of the invention and with parts broken away for the convenienceof explanation;

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially onthe plane of section line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on theplane of section line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on theplane of section line 66 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of a flush tank and showing theinvention in modified form, partly in section and partly in elevationapplied to the tank;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the valve member shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a plan view of one of the suction cup elements used in theinvention;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a flush tank andshowing the invention in modified form applied thereto and partiallyshown in section;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the valve cage employed in theconstruction shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view of a flush tank and showing theinvention in further modified form applied thereto and with parts brokenaway and shown in section;

Figure 13 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyon the plane of section line 13-13 of Figure 12; and

nitd States Patent() Figure 14 is a perspective view of the valve memberused with the form of the invention shown in Figures 11 and 12.

Referring now to the-drawings in detail, and more particularly toFigures'l through 6, inclusive, wherein for the purpose of illustration,thereis disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, thenumeral 10represents a substantially rectangular flush tank cover or reservoirhaving a recess 12 at one end that is provided with a filling opening 14normally closed by a closure plug 16, as shown best in Figure 6 of thedrawings.

' The bottom wall of the reservoir 10 is provided with two internallythreaded nipples 18 and 20 that are selectively capable of receivablyengaging a closure plug 22. The nipples 18 and 20are also capable ofreceiving the upper externally threaded end of a vertical tube orconduit 24 having a lower discharge end 26.

Upper and lower transverse bores 28 and 30 are provided in the conduit24 and rotatably receive therein the cylindrical transversely aperturedportions 32 and 34 of upper and lower valve members 36 and 38. The valvemembers 36 and 38 include laterally projecting shank portions 40 and 42whose outer ends carry floats 44 and 46. The shank portions 40 and 42also carry stop pins 43 and 50 that limit vertical swinging movement ofthe valve members.

Conduit 24 is provided with an enlarged bulb-like intermediate portion52 that forms an auxiliary reservoir and this enlarged portion islocated between the upper and lower valve members as shownbest'in Figure2 of the drawings.

A plurality of straps 54 rest against the undersurface of the bottomwall of the reservoir 10 and suction cups 56 and 58 are suitablyattached to or are integrally formed with the ends of the straps andremovably adhere to the reservoir 10. The cups 56 and 58 of each strapare spaced apart sufficiently to receive the upper edge of theperipheral wall of the flush tank T, and thereby confine the reservoirover the tank.

The reservoir is preferably constructed of a material resistant to theharmful characteristics of a detergent, such as plastic, therebyprolonging the useful quality of the reservoir.

The transverse opening in the valve portion 32 is so disposed that itwill align the tube 24 when the float 44 is raised, whereas the openingin the transverse opening in the valve portion 34 is so located as toalign the tube 24 only when its associated float 46 is lowered.

In practical use of the invention, shown in Figures 1 through 6,inclusive, a suitable detergent, of liquid form or a soluble dissolvedin liquid, is placed in the reservoir through the filling opening 14.Both floats 44 and 46 are raised since the water in the flush tank is atits normally high level. Therefore, the upper valve member 36 is in itsopen position and the lower valvemember 38 is in its closed position.

The detergent in reservoir 10 will gravitate into the tube 24 past thevalve portion 32, into chamber 52 and will be retained above closedvalve member 38. However, as the fiushing operation occurs, the level ofthe water in tank T will recede below the valve portion 34 and bothfloats 44 and 46 will move downwardly, due to their weight, in order toclose the valve portion 32 and open the valve portion 34. During thisphase, the detergent between the valve. portions 32 and 34 will passinto the tank to mix with the water as the water assumes its normallevel. Furthermore, as the water in the tank T assumes its normal level,valve portion 32 will be moved by float 44 to its open position andvalve portion 34 will be moved by its float 46 to a closed. position.

Obviously, suitable means is employed for retaining the valve portionsrelative to the tube 24. This means may Fat nted Feb. 28, 1956 a assumethe form of a pair of spaced, split rings 60 and 62 yieldingly receivedin grooves in the valve portions so as to restrict axial movement of theportions 32, 34. Portion 32 includes a passage forming an air vent tothe interior oftube 24 below portion 32 when portion 32 is moved to itsclosed position.

Attention is now directed to Figures 7, 8 and 9 wherein there isillustrated the present invention in modified form. In this embodiment,the valve member is designated by the numeral 100 and comprises a rigidshank 102 having a threaded connection with the socket portion 104 of afloat 106.

The end of shank portion 102 remote from the float 106 is formed with anattaching element 112 having a bifurcated portion 114 that is pivoted toan ear 1.16 at the lower end of the vertical tube 24a.

Again, the upper end of the tube 24:: is coupled to a discharge oroutlet nipple 18a of a reservoir or flush tank cover 10a which is filledwith a detergent or detergent solution.

When the liquid in the tank Ta, covered by the reservoir 10a, is raisedto its normal level, as shown in Figure 7, the valve member 100 will beraised to its closed position to prevent the detergent from passing intothe tank. However, during the flushing operation, the level of waterwill recede and permit opening of the valve member so that the detergentwill pass into the tank until the float 106 is raised in response to theliquid in the tank.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 is next to beconsidered. In this embodiment, the vertical tube 24b is again attachedat its upper end to the discharge nipple 18b of a reservoir 10b that isretained on the upper edge of the flush tanks peripheral wall Tb.

A cage element 200 is formed at its upper end with an inner ring portion202 that encircles the reduced end of the tube 24b to restrict upwardmovement of the cage element. The valve comprises a floatable ball 204confined within the cage that will close the lower end of the conduitwhen the water level is raised to its normal position and which willopen the lower discharge end of conduit 2411 when the water descends toits lower level during the flushing operation, in order that thedetergent may pass into the tank Tb.

Figures 12, 13 and 14 show the invention in still further modified form.In this embodiment, the vertical supply tube 24c is attached at itsupper end to the delivery nipple 180 of the flush tank cover orreservoir 10c and the lower end of tube 24c is formed with a conicaldischarge orifice 300.

A guide composed of two vertical rods 302 is attached at their upperends to the lower end of tube 240 and slidably receive channels 304secured to diametrically opposite sides of a valve member 306 having ahollow floatable disk 308 that supports a conical element 310.

When the liquid level of the tank Tc is normal, element 310 entersaperture 300 to close the same, however, as the liquid level lowers, asa result of the flushing operation, Valve member 306 will slidedownwardly to its open position to permit detergent in tank 100 to passinto the tank to mix with the flush tank water as the latter rises inthe tank.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new 1. In a flushtank, a reservoir supported on the upper end of the tank and having anoutlet, a vertical tube attached to and depending from said outlet andhaving a lower discharge end, upper and lower rotatable valve memberscarried by the conduit, and said valve members each including a floatresponsive to the level of water in the tank for movement of the valvemembers to their open or closed position, said lower valve member beingclosed when the float thereof is raised and open when the float thereofis lowered, said upper valve being open when its float is raised andclosed when its float is lowered.

2. In a flush tank, a reservoir supported on the upper end of the tankand having an outlet, a vertical tube attached to and depending fromsaid outlet and having a lower discharge end, upper and lower rotatablevalve members carried by the conduit, and said valve members eachincluding a float responsive to the level of water in the tank formovement of the valve members to their open or closed position, saidlower valve member being closed when the float thereof is raised andopen when the float thereof is lowered, said upper valve being open whenits float is raised and closed when its float is lowered, said tubehaving an enlarged portion disposed between said upper and lower valvemembers to form an auxiliary reservoir.

3. In a flush tank having a high liquid level and a low liquid level, avertical conduit within the tank and having a lower discharge enddisposed above the low liquid level of the tank, upper and lower valvemembers carried by the conduit and disposed between the upper and lowerliquid levels, each of said vvalve members including a float, said uppervalve member being in its open position when its float is raised andclosed when its float is lowered, said lower valve member being openwhen its float is lowered and open when its float is raised, and adetergent supply connected to the upper end of the conduit for supplyinga detergent into the conduit past the upper valve member and up to thelower valve member when the water in the tank is up to its high liquidlevel, said upper valve member being closed and said lower valve memberbeing open as the water in the tank recedes to its low level, whereby adetergent retained between the valve members will pass into the tank asthe water in the tank recedes to its low liquid level.

4. For use with a flush tank, a reservoir forming a top for the tank andhaving a filling opening and an outlet, a conduit attached to anddepending from the outlet, said conduit having a lower discharge enddisposed close to the bottom of the tank, and a float valve at the lowerend of the conduit, said valve being movable to its open position as thelevel of water in the tank goes below the lower end of the conduit,whereby a detergent in the reservoir may pass into the tank and be mixedwith water as the tank is refilled and a plurality of straps at theundersurface of said reservoir, a suction cup at each end of each strapand engaging the undersurface of the reservoir, the upper edges of thewalls of the tank being received be tween the suction cups of eachstrap.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said float valve comprises a balllocated below the lower end of said conduit, and a cage at the lower endof said conduit and comprising the ball'therein.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said float valve comprises a diskand a pair of diametrically opposed channels fixed to the disk, and aguide engaged with the lower end of the conduit and including a pair ofvertical rods slidably receiving the channels.

7. The combination of claim 4 wherein said conduit is provided with anupper float valve, said upper float valve being movable to closedposition when the flush tank is filled with water.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS294,327 Nobes Feb. 26, 1884 1,065,307 Evertts June 17, 1913 1,087,060Gilson Feb. 10, 1914 1,366,028 Schlag Jan. 18, 1921 1,857,409 Smith May10, 1932 2,199,094 Ahern Apr. 30, 1940 2,207,363 Vipond July 9, 19402,450,609 Phelps Oct. 5, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 12,239 Great Britain May25, 1906 488,804 Great Britain July 14, 1938 613,064 Great Britain Nov.22, 1948

